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Exploring Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument

It’s hard to imagine that camels, lions, and mammoths once roamed the landscape around Las Vegas, Nevada.  But such was the case during the latter part of the Pleistocene era, which spanned a period of time between 11,000 years and 2.5 million years ago.  The area -- known as the Upper Las Vegas Wash –- is rich with the fossils of these and many more creatures as well as ancient plants and pollens.  

This trove of fossils is preserved within Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, which was established not too long ago, in 2014.  In this week’s podcast, Lynn Riddick talks with Tule Springs Superintendent Derek Carter to learn about the treasures contained here and the latest management plans for the site. 

 

:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
:12 Episode Introduction with Kurt Repanshek
:54 Escalante - Tim Heintz - The Sounds of Peaks, Plateaus and Canyons
1:04 Nova Scotia Tourism
1:34 Yosemite Conservancy
1:55 Friends of Acadia
2:20 North Cascades Institute
2:40 Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Superintendent Derek Carter discusses the monument with Lynn Riddick.
31:57 Blue Mist - Randy Petersen - The Sounds of Shenandoah
32:07 Washington’s National Park Fund
32:42 Grand Teton National Park Foundation
33:11 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
33:32 Potrero Group
34:00 Interior Federal Credit Union
34:41 Lynn Riddick continues her exploration of Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Superintendent Derek Carter resumes.
49:38 Whispering Winds - Grant Geissman - Sounds of the Caribbean
49:50 Episode Closing
50:43 Orange Tree Productions
51:15 Splitbeard Productions
51:26 National Parks Traveler footer

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Your support for the National Parks Traveler comes at a time when news organizations are finding it hard, if not impossible, to stay in business. Traveler's work is vital. For nearly two decades we've provided essential coverage of national parks and protected areas. With the Trump administration’s determination to downsize the federal government, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s approach to public lands focused on energy exploration, it’s clear the Traveler will have much to cover in the months and years ahead. We know of no other news organization that provides such broad coverage of national parks and protected areas on a daily basis. Your support is greatly appreciated.

 

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National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 323 | Walt Dabney and Public Lands

It’s fair to say that the nation’s public lands, those managed by the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and other federal land-management agencies are at risk under the Trump administration.

There’s no hyperbole in that statement if you pay attention to what the administration already has done in terms of downsizing those agencies’ workforces, and when you listen to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum say he wants to open more public lands to energy development and mining.

May 4th, 2025 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 322 | Congressman Jared Huffman

The first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second term might be the most tumultuous first 100 days of any president. He certainly came in prepared to move his agenda forward, no matter what barriers to it existed.

We don’t usually discuss presidential politics, but President Trump has released a blizzard of executive orders and directives touching all corners of the federal government, including the National Park Service.

April 27th, 2025 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 321 | National Park Science At Risk

There has been much upheaval in the National Park Service this year, with firings, then rehires, and staff deciding to retire now rather than risk sticking around and being fired. There have been fears that more Park Service personnel are about to be let go through a reduction in force.

While Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has ordered the Park Service to ensure that parks are properly to support the operating hours and needs of each park unit,” that message said nothing about protecting park resources.

April 20th, 2025 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 320 | George Wright Society

George Melendez Wright was a brilliant young scientist with the National Park Service back in the 1920s and 1930s. You could say he was ahead of his time, in that he wanted the Park Service to take a holistic role in how wildlife in the parks was managed.

April 6th, 2025 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 319 | Kilauea's Unrest

One of the greatest shows on Earth has been going on now for several months in Hawaii, where the Kīlauea volcano at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park has been erupting since late December. The Kīlauea volcano is the most active volcano on Earth.

March 30th, 2025 Read More

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